Universities are expanding online degree programs to benefit nontraditional students

Universities are expanding online degree programs to benefit nontraditional students

Average earnings for bachelors degree holders nearly double within 10 years of their graduation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Working adults who do not have a college education may want to consider enrolling in an online degree program in order to boost potential earnings.

Schools such as the University of Louisiana in Lafayette (ULL) are increasing efforts to make courses more accessible to nontraditional learners, such as students with full-time jobs, families or transportation challenges. The Advocate reports that the university created an Office of Distance and Electronic Learning earlier this year to develop online options for students who may not be able to attend the traditional classroom.

University officials predict that the program will expand over the next year to add another 48 options to its existing 58 distance learning courses. The first online initiative was a masters degree in nursing, which was offered through a collaboration with Southeastern Louisiana University and McNeese State University. Within the next year, the school will offer an online business degree.

"At the end of the day, it's about access," Luke Dowden, director of ULL's distance learning office, told the news source.

"It's a delivery format, but learning is still the goal," he added.

The program was created in response to Hurricane Katrina in order to prevent displaced students from falling behind. Today, state measures such as the Louisiana Performance Accountability System and the new GRAD Act are encouraging schools to create more distance learning and online options for nontraditional students.

The BLS reports that bachelors degree holders earned an average of $1,025 per week during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

By Mark Danson